Let's be honest: the term "defensive driving" comes with some baggage. After all, being defensive is a bad thing, right? There are plenty of myths out there, starting with the idea that only new or unskilled drivers need to learn these methods.
The truth is that defensive driving isn't about living in fear. It's about using your driving skills proactively to keep you — and other drivers — safe on the road. Defensive driving helps give you the confidence to make smart, split-second choices. There are plenty of benefits, including a few financial ones that you may not be aware of.
First, let's debunk some of the myths.
Myth 1: Defensive Driving Is Only for New Drivers
Defensive driving is good driving — and that doesn't have an age limit. The Texas Department of Insurance, a state agency, describes the major defensive driving skills as:
Anticipating other drivers' mistakes
Maintaining safe speeds
Maintaining appropriate following distances
Staying alert for risks
These are excellent skills for new drivers to learn, but they're also important habits for drivers of all ages. More seasoned drivers will benefit from being able to anticipate the mistakes that younger drivers are likely to make, which will help them avoid accidents caused by others.
Myth 2: Defensive Driving Is Unnecessary for Experienced Drivers
A person with many years of experience behind the wheel has had a long time to develop and solidify bad habits. This can be especially critical if you move to another region, where local driving customs are a bit different.
Even if you don't have bad driving habits, you might be a bit overconfident in your skills, which leads to paying less attention. A full 94% of crashes are caused by human error, so even the most experienced drivers can use a skills refresh to brush up on their defensive driving.
Myth 3: Defensive Driving Is Boring
Today's defensive driving courses are a far cry from your old high school driver's ed class. Modern, online courses are typically designed to be engaging and interactive, and you can take them at your convenience — no stuffy classroom or boring lecture required.
Updated defensive driving courses also focus directly on the skills instead of wasting time on traffic law basics and the rules of the road that you already understand. You'll pick up practical skills you can use in real-life scenarios, so you'll know exactly how to handle a dangerous situation when it pops up.
Myth 4: Defensive Driving Doesn't Impact Insurance Rates
On the contrary: completing a defensive driving program can score you a discount on your car insurance. Depending on the state where you live and your insurance company's discount policy, you could be eligible for a 5-10% discount on your insurance premiums. That's a financial benefit that will quickly cover the cost of the course and continue paying off for as long as you need to insure your car.
The Benefits of Defensive Driving
The truth is that there are real benefits to defensive driving. When you follow the main skills around following distance, speed, and alertness, you can better avoid the top causes of car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding killed 12,151 people in 2022.
When you control your own speed, you reduce everyone's risk. But defensive driving also helps you react appropriately when other drivers behave aggressively. When you maintain a good following distance, you have more time to react to being cut off by a speeder erratically changing lanes or slamming on their brakes because they're going too fast. Other skills will help you anticipate what other drivers will do and keep you alert to "escape routes" if something bad happens.
The bottom line? Defensive driving provides a whole range of skills and techniques that will help increase your reaction time and make it easier to avoid accidents — and that helps keep everyone safer.
Getting Started with Defensive Driving
Whether your license is brand new or you've been driving for decades, defensive driving can help you avoid costly accidents and injury — and even help lower your insurance rates. Contrary to the myths, there are so many advantages to defensive driving.
Updated 10/21/2024
